STEPHEN FRY REVEALED AS TOP GUEST THE NATION WOULD INVITE TO THEIR SPECIAL DINNER PARTY

To celebrate the new series of Martell Very Special Nights, Martell Cognac has commissioned a survey to find the nation’s top ingredients for a Fantasy Dinner Party, or their own Very Special Night, including favourite guests, music, food and recommended topics of conversation. The results reveal Stephen Fry as the most popular guest Britons would invite to their fantasy dinner party, closely followed by Sir David Attenborough and comedian Billy Connolly, both in joint second place and Dawn French a close fourth.

British rock band Queen, topped the poll at as the most sought after music stars to perform an after dinner set and favourite dinner party meals included roast dinners, steak and chips, beef wellington and Indian curry. Music was the clear winner of dinner conversation topics with 84%, closely followed by memories, hobbies, holidays and family.

When discussing their Fantasy Dinner Party, Katherine Jenkins said: “If I were hosting my Fantasy Dinner Party I would invite people with amazing stories to share, Mandela; musicians who have inspired me, Mozart and Maria Callas; Ms Monroe for a bit of glamour and my Mum for support! Raymond Blanc would prepare my favourite dishes – cockles and lava bread, full roast dinner and chocolate fondant cake with white chocolate ice cream. Music would play an important part and I would want Ludovico Einaudi to perform a song he composed especially for the occasion."

Raymond Blanc added: “My Fantasy Dinner Party would start with an intimate performance by Nicola Benedetti or Lang Lang, followed by dinner using the best seasonal & local produce with the finest cheese and a delicious dessert. As you can imagine, conversation around the dinner table tends to revolve around food and drink but with Louis Armstrong playing a live after dinner set, no doubt the topic will switch to music!”